Other Confidential Help for Doctors

NHS England - GP Health Service

A confidential service for GPs and GP trainees in England, providing access to mental health support to those who are suffering from mental ill-health, in particular where this condition might affect work.

Health for Health Professionals Wales

A confidential counselling service for all doctors in Wales. It provides doctors with access to an accredited therapist in their area, funded by the Welsh Government and administered by Cardiff University.

Northern Ireland: Health & Social Care Board

There are no dedicated HSCB supportive resources for doctors although individual trusts do offer Occupational Health facilities. GPs can self-refer or a formal referral can be made to the Occupational Health Service from the HSCB. Occupational Health can then initiate further help/support as appropriate.

NHS Education for Scotland

Support for GPs in their return to work, via the Induction and Returners Scheme and for those GPs who want to maintain their skills whilst unable to commit to full time practice on the GP Retainer Scheme, including GP stories from doctors who have entered the programmes.

NHS Practitioner Health Programme London

A free, confidential service for doctors who have mental or physical health concerns and or addiction problems, in particular where this may affect work. The service covers all doctors and dentists living in the London area. There are currently no arrangements for other parts of the UK, but the service accepts referrals on a cost per case basis.

BMA Wellbeing Support Services

Help with issues such as: stress and anxiety, bullying, bereavment, relationship issues, alcohol or substance abuse, depression and isolation. Helpline staffed by professional telephone counsellors who are all members of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and bound by strict codes of confidentiality and ethical practice. By seeking constructive and supportive help from the service, you may identify ways of addressing the root causes of your problem, develop strategies to reduce the impact of the consequences and rebuild your self-confidence.

This peer support service runs alongside BMA Counselling giving doctors and medical students in distress or difficulty the choice of speaking in confidence to another doctor. BMA Wellbeing Support Services do not provide diagnoses or treatment, although inevitably any interaction will have a therapeutic aspect.

BMA Law

An independent law firm established by the British Medical Association, offering expert, cost effective legal advice. Advice about work, such as partnership issues and personal issues, such as divorce. Unlike other law firms we operate on a not-for-profit basis – reinvesting any surpluses back into services for doctors.

DocHealth (All Doctors)

A service supported by the BMA and RMBF, is a confidential psychotherapeutic consultation service for all doctors, which gives doctors an opportunity to explore difficulties, both professional and personal. This pilot service is delivered by consultant medical psychotherapists. Although located in London the service is open to all doctors in the UK. For doctors living a considerable distance from London we are able to offer, after the initial face-to-face consultation, further consultations by skype.

Doctor Support Service (All Doctors)

Any doctor where a complaint has been made to the GMC, can ask for support from the Doctor Support Service, which offers emotional help from fellow doctors and functions independently of the GMC. Support is available from when a complaint is made until the outcome of the case. Doctors unable to talk with family or supportive colleagues may find the service particularly useful.

General Medical Council

Having taken the wellbeing of doctors extremely seriously, particularly those with health concerns, the GMC has developed proposals which it hopes will reduce the inevitable stress on a doctor undergoing investigation.

Sick Doctors Trust

Established in 1996 by a group of doctors who were themselves recovering from addictions and were concerned at the lack of effective arrangements for helping others who found themselves in difficulty as a result of alcohol or drug use.

Aims to offer hope to affected colleagues and persuade them that they have an illness which can be treated successfully and to assist them in accessing such treatment

The British Doctors and Dentists Group

The British Doctors’ and Dentists' Group, formed in 1973, is a mutual support society for doctors and dentists who are recovering, or wish to recover, from addiction/dependency on alcohol or other drugs.

Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland (for MDDUS members only)

Supports members with complaints made by patients against them or who are facing disciplinary matters from their employing trust. A highly qualified team of medical and dental professionals gives advice and guidance.

GP Guardian

An initiative set up by Primary Care People, a leading recruiter of medical professionals in the UK. The project has been launched as a not-for-profit organisation with the primary focus of supporting “distressed” GPs, including those with GMC sanctions and those who cannot get indemnified through one of the MDOs.

Primary Care People are aiming to arrange indemnity cover, as well as providing the ongoing training and support required in order to aid a return to practice and retain work once there.

Psychiatrists' Support Service, Royal College of Psychiatrists

A confidential support and advice telephone helpline to for Members or Associates of the College. It covers addictions, bullying and harassment, career pathway, discrimination, examinations, involvement with the General Medical Council or the National Clinical Assessment Service.

Royal College of Surgeons Confidential Support and Advice Services for Surgeons (CSAS)

Offers a confidential telephone line as a point of personal contact between surgeons which is intended to offer a listening ear and will act as an informed signpost to appropriate sources of advice and support.